The National Research Council of Thailand and STS forum Announce Collaboration to Advance Science, Innovation, and Early-Career Researchers at the STS forum Japan–Thailand Symposium 2026
25 April 2026
On 24 April 2026, the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, in collaboration with the Science and Technology in Society forum (STS forum), held the opening ceremony of the STS Forum Japan–Thailand Symposium 2026. The event was organized under the theme “The Great Convergence: AI-Driven Health, Environment and Bio-Economy,” and featured a joint declaration of collaboration between the two organizations. The ceremony was co-chaired by Dr. Wiparat De-Ong, Executive Director of the National Research Council of Thailand, and Professor Sadayuki Tsuchiya, Executive Director of the STS forum, and took place at Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, Bangkok.
Dr. Wiparat stated that this meeting represents a significant step in strengthening cooperation in science, research, and innovation between Thailand and Japan. The focus is placed on the role of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in addressing global challenges such as climate change, health, energy, and the environment. Under the concept of “The Great Convergence,” the initiative integrates knowledge across health, environmental, and bio-economy sectors to drive sustainable development.
On this occasion, both sides jointly issued a declaration of intent for collaboration, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the partnership between Thailand and Japan in science, technology, and innovation. They also pledged to continuously advance cooperation under the STS framework, particularly in developing the STS forum Japan–Thailand Symposium into a key platform for knowledge exchange, as well as expanding participation in the STS forum Annual Meeting in Kyoto.
In addition, emphasis was placed on human resource development, with a focus on promoting academic collaboration from the educational level through to the development of a new generation of researchers, who will play a key role in driving future innovation.
Regarding the roles of each organization, NRCT will support research funding and drive national policies in science, research, and innovation, while the STS forum will serve as an important mechanism for connecting international networks of cooperation.
This event also reflects Thailand’s role as a regional hub for science, technology, and innovation, and marks another important step in strengthening international collaboration toward the goal of sustainable development in the future.
